Case Study: FMG - DOWNLOAD AS PDF
“Without Orion’s remote communications solutions our exploration projects simply would not work.”
Project
Over the past decade, modern mining / exploration projects have begun to truly embrace and take full advantage of all the functionality that broadband internet and affordable/ reliable communications can offer a remote project and its operations.
Fortescue Metals Group Limited (FMG) quickly established itself within the Iron Ore production ranks as a force to be reckoned with. Its dominance was further reflected in its aggressive exploration programs, taking full advantage of all tenements to maximize shareholder returns. It is from the large number of exploration projects that FMG undertook that the requirement for rugged, reliable and affordable communications be developed.
In order for an exploration project to be productive on a commercial, safety and social level FMG identified that each project would require broadband internet connectivity as well as versatile telephony options.
Challenges Faced
Whilst the solution implemented and delivered was relatively standard there were challenges to overcome including; fluctuating staff numbers, different life expectancies for individual projects and the different connectivity requirements of the individual projects.
General internet and telephony connectivity can enhance a projects safety procedures as well as increase productivity, however determining what level of connectivity best suits a particular project is paramount, based on the fact that an underserviced project will not be as productive as anticipated while an over serviced project will encounter budget blowouts.
Orion works very closely with the Exploration IT and Infrastructure Team at FMG to determine what bandwidth and telephony each individual project will require when it is in the planning stage. A basic formula centred on the maximum number of connections and the logical average number of connections coupled with the anticipated applications to run across the link are used to make an educated estimate as to what level of connectivity will suit any given project.
Solution
FMG have a number of their exploration projects accessing a “pool” of bandwidth via Orion’s Hughes VSAT Solutions. The “pool” of bandwidth solutions allows FMG to access sites/ services as they are required without having to notify Orion or incur any service suspension or re-activation charges – The kits simply stay on standby until they are required.
“Without Orion’s remote communications solutions our exploration projects simply would not work”. Ian Threlfo – IT Manager for FMG Exploration
Results
Successfully overcoming the challenges Orion continues to provide FMG with a number of services that embrace the desired flexibility whilst providing the greenfield exploration projects with mission critical communications.






